The Seven Churches of Revelation - Thyatira and Sardis

Thyatira

18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;

Many are fond of saying that Jesus is not God.  In this letter to Thyatira it says he has eyes like a flame of fire.  The first time we see this is in Exodus 3:2, the burning bush where God said, “I am that I am.  This is the same statement that Jesus said in Mark 14:61-62 when the High Priest asked if He was the Son of God.  In this statement He is declaring that He is both the Son of God and the voice of God in the burning bush.  It is not a lesser position.  He is God.  Joel 2:1-11 describes the day of the Lord and how it will be like a flame of fire (Revelation 1:14). 

Brass is always mentioned in the Bible for judgment.  It was the only metal available that could handle heat and therefore used to burn sacrifices to turn away the judgment of God.  In some verses the angels sent by God to proclaim His judgments are said to have feet like brass (Ezekiel 1:7, Daniel 10:6, Revelation 1:15) and of course this verse.  When Jesus says he is the flame of fire and has feet of fine brass we know a judgment of God is coming.  The fire is a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24 – God is jealous, Deuteronomy 9:3 – God will consume His enemies, and finally in Hebrews 12:27-29 – God consumes those who do not come to Him in faith to obtain His mercy.) 

Scripture says, “Do not be deceived, God is never mocked (Galatians 6:7).”  Those who mock His name will receive the recompense of reward for their sin.  Scripture also says, “The fool has said in his heart there is no God (Psalm 14:1, 53:1-5).  Whenever I hear someone call the Almighty the “Sky God” or some other foolish insult I think, “A fool is someone who insists they are an expert at something they know nothing about and refuse to acknowledge they may be in error.  Billions over the course of the earth’s history will one day awaken to realize that they were wrong.

19 I know thy works (ergon), and love (agape), and service (diakonia), and faith (pistis), and thy patience (hypomone), and thy works (ergon); and the last to be more than the first.

Your ending works are greater than your beginning works.  Because of your love and service and faith and patience, you have grown to be more effective and effectual in your service to God.  The Lord judges our works.  Are they of faith, have they been motivated by love and faith and a desire to serve?  Is your work motivated by a desire to be seen or a desire to perform the will of God for the pleasure of serving and obeying our Heavenly Father?  Faith without works is dead (James 2:18-26) but then works without faith is nothing at all.  All that you do must be mingled with faith and that with love.

20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

I don’t know why but this verse makes me chuckle.  Anyone familiar with the Bible knows the name Jezebel who helped her husband Ahab the king to sin (1 Kings 21:25).  Oddly enough the Greek translation of the Hebrew name means “chaste” in my Strongs but the Hebrew translation means “Baal is my husband” or “unchaste.”  Those last two of course make the most sense.  We know the woman Jezebel in the Old Testament was instrumental in causing the Children of Israel to sin by murdering the prophets of the Lord and supporting hundreds of the Prophets of Baal.  Though Elijah killed the prophets of Baal he was terrified of this woman (1 Kings 18:22-19:15).

Most scholars call this story allegorical because they believe it is too unlikely for there to be another woman named Jezebel who is trying to get the children of God to stumble.  The first thing I would like to state is that most of us find a way to live up to our names.  Names are powerful things.  I come from a long line of shepherds from Bavaria.  As I stated previously my family name means “shepherd’s staff.”  I have seen a photo in National Geographic of a shepherd in Bavaria, Germany that looked just like my Uncle Rich.  I would hope that my soul and spirit look like Jesus the Shepherd of us all.

Whether or not this woman’s name was actually Jezebel or not is unimportant.  She walked in that spirit and sought to lead the church of Thyatira in the same sort of sins.  Not only was she living a life of sin but it goes on to say that she was trying to teach the people to sin.  Scripture is very specific about prophets and teachers.  Prophets are the foundation of the body of Christ (Ephesians 2:20) and teachers  have the ability to mold your future directions.  Beware false teachers and false prophets (Romans 16:16-18, 1 John 4:1, 2 John 1:10-11, 2 Timothy 4:3-4).  I could go on but you get the idea.  Know the Word of God for yourself (2 Timothy 2:15, Hosea 4:6) so you don’t stumble.

Perhaps you think that this type of thing is ridiculous, that it couldn’t happen.  It happens all the time.  I recall a church I attended many years ago that broke up because the pastor committed sexual sin.  He left the ministry in the hands of the assistant pastor.  A few years later I had to come back to the town on business and met up with the church.  They were going to different houses and drinking alcohol and partying.  The church had become a social pit rather than a spiritual beacon.  I couldn’t believe it.  I got out of there immediately.  This type of life can lead to churches that hold services while serving beer and wine or have homosexual pastors.  There is a reason that God expects holiness and that is so His house will always be known as a house of prayer and filled with life.  

21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.

In spite of the depth of her failures and her terrible example of fornication AND idolatry Jesus allowed her an opportunity to repent.  This verse is extremely important.  This wasn’t the local pastor’s judgment or even the local bishop’s.  This was Jesus’ decision.  He gave her time and she ignored it.  In Genesis 15 God promises Abram great things and he wished to know when they would step into it.  God told him that it would take time because the sin of the Amorites was not yet full.  God doesn’t forget sin.  He offers opportunities to repent with spiritual strength to make it possible.  When the end comes it is final.  The Amorites are no more.  Those who refuse to repent will be no more as well.

22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. 23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

God is quite capable of making the punishment fit the sin.  The punishment of all sin is death; but even death has levels and sin is judged from small to great.  The Lord will arrange the relationship so that all those who commit sin with her will find themselves always having accidents, making stupid decisions, offending dangerous people and in general living a miserable life.  Her own children will no longer have the protection that average people receive from God without even knowing it.  They will die.  God will award these ‘supposed’ Christians with what they so justly deserve rather than with the grace and mercy He usually awards.  His judgments are far harsher towards His wayward children than unsaved sinners.

24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.

Now we get to those in Thyatira who have striven to walk the straight and narrow path (Matthew 7:13) and live a holy life before God.  His choice is not to add burden upon burden or sorrow upon sorrow.  These are they who do not try to justify the righteousness of abominable life practices but merely love as God has ordained and serve as He has desired.  They are not saddled with burdens of punishment or sorrows.  Life itself has enough trials that affect us.  God would ease our burdens and comfort our hearts.  Will you allow Him to do so by your loving, God fearing life or will you force Him to cause you pain and even death to protect the rest of us?

25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.

What rules and regulations were we given?  We can already see that fornication and adultery is a sin.  Other lifestyles listed as abominations are also still sins and have not changed in God’s mind simply because He did not choose to have them retaught by Jesus.  Eating pork or mixing types of materials are not abominations.  These were special requirements chosen by God to teach Israel how to obey; not to judge sin.  Cheating, stealing, mocking others, homosexuality, fornication…these are abominations that never change and sins that God will not continue to tolerate in the church. 

In Acts 15:20 the counsel in Jerusalem decided that… “we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.”  This counsel decided once and for all that Christians would not be required to observe all the day to day rules and regulations that all Jews were required to obey.  What it did NOT do was to suddenly make SIN okay.  These requirements were not criminal but there are ‘religious criminal laws’ in the Bible.  These are laws that God has specifically made a sin for all mankind.  The ten commandments are one such set of laws. 

26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

This is a reference to Psalm 2 which says: 7 “I will proclaim the decree:  Jehovah said to me,  ‘You are my son;  today I became your father.  8 Ask of me, and I will make  the nations your inheritance;  the whole wide world  will be your possession.  9 You will break them with an iron rod,  shatter them like a clay pot.’” It ends, “10 Therefore, kings, be wise; be warned, you judges of the earth. 11 Serve Jehovah with fear; rejoice, but with trembling. 12 Kiss the son, lest he be angry, and you perish along the way, when suddenly his anger blazes. How blessed are all who take refuge in him.”

This is the warning for the world to come.  This is why Jesus came to Thyatira as the Son of God who walks with fire and judgment.  He is a merciful and gracious Savior and Lord but also walks as judge, jury AND executioner of the world.  People on the earth, particularly the unsaved, are fond of taking our Christian scripture against judging (Luke 6:37) and using it to say that we will not be allowed to judge the smallest things.  This is scripturally incorrect (John 7:24) and we can see in the verse above that not only did the Lord Jehovah give this right to Jesus but Jesus gave it to us if we will endure sound doctrine until the end. 

Do you really suppose that God will allow those who mince about and mock His authority and rules and call themselves Christians but doubt the very truth and power of His Word will be allowed to judge the world?  Jesus has been given this authority to judge nations and kings and destroy those who have stood against Him.  He expects us to walk in His righteousness and remain holy and blameless as we possibly can until the very end and then He will give this same authority and honor to us.

I love the last sentence of Psalm 2:11, “How blessed are those who take refuge in Him.”  These letters are written to US!  They are written to the church of God with expectation of swift repentance.  They ring clearly together with the words of 2 Chronicles 7:14 – “If MY people, which are called by MY name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek MY face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”  We are the ones judged by these letters; not the sinners.  It goes on in 2 Chronicles to say that only after we straighten up and act right will God arise from His slumber and open His eyes to our plight.  Then will He hear us and answer our prayers.

28 And I will give him the morning star.

Jesus is the true light that lights our hearts.  Read the prophecy of Zacharias in Luke 1.  Verse 77-78 says, “…because of the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”  And finally 2 Peter 1:19, “So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.”  This same title is also repeated in Revelation 22:16 just before calling all who thirst to come.

29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

And if you don’t…use your imagination.

Chapter 3

Sardis

1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

Sardis, a gemstone, red in color and can be quite beautiful.  Sardis was the wealthy capitol city of Lydia.  This was the church whose parking lot would have been filled with Mercedes and Rolls Royces.  They had a name that meant wealth and riches to all who heard it.  While there is no sin in honoring God by respecting His churches and doing all they can to improve upon their beauty, there comes a time when those improvements are motivated by pride and not by a desire to honor God.  Sardis was one such church.  This wealthy church started out on the wrong foot with Jesus. They thought they were doing okay, hence the “name” that they were alive even though He said they were dead.  Have you ever met Christians who thought they had it all and yet you could see the emptiness in their hearts toward the Lord?

2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

Here are a people who are like someone in a hospital, whose heart is ready to stop beating.  In spite of their dire spiritual condition they appear to be strong and vibrant for God.  They spout religious words and love for everyone but they have forsaken the true doctrine of holiness and love for God.  Scripture says they are like the man who sees himself in a mirror and turning away has forgotten who he was.  James 1:22-24 says, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding your own selves. For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a mirror: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth away, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.”

Having a strong relationship with God is a subtle and tender thing.  It must be nurtured daily to remain strong and flourishing.  As we will see below, those who fight against the touch of God’s powerful anointing will be shocked to lose that tremendous relationship. 

3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

No doubt there will be thousands upon thousands of Christians who will observe the day of the rapture with horror when they realize their weak and faithless salvation was little better than a social club experience.  Only those who have received the engrafted word of the Living God with faith and assurance and who nurture daily their walk with God are likely to hear the voice and feel the tug of the Savior when He comes as a thief. 

These are like those who receive the word with gladness but the cares of this life and watered down doctrine have caused them to gradually release the true passion and zeal of their original salvation experience.  Notice He says they must repent.  That means that they once walked before God with a zeal and passion but have allowed it to die off and become cold.  We are told to watch and be ready at all times.  Will you hear and be ready?

4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. 5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Sardis - Thou hast a few names (white stones) in Sardis who have not defiled their garments.  This proves that you CAN defile holy garments even with other ‘holy’ people. 

This letter was short and hard with just a hint of respite.  Some ‘might’ overcome.  Those that do will be clothed in white garments and not be blotted out of the book of life.  This verse goes a long way toward proving that the once saved always saved doctrine is not completely true.  They had to accept Christ to be written in the book of life.  Once in the book, Jesus reserves the right to blot out their name if need be.  Do you suppose it will be a big ink stain or an erasure?  The Greek word is exaleipho which means to smear, obliterate, wipe away.  It could be any of those.  It also contains a reference to being erased with tears as if Jesus is weeping while He wipes away those names.  

There are two parts to this word.  Ex means exceeding or extreme and aleipho means to anoint.  This appears to speak of someone who is unable to endure sound doctrine to the point where it becomes an abomination to them.  Jesus would literally blot their names out with the unendurable anointing and their hearts would be incapable of continuing in it.  I have known people who detest the word anointing.  Until now I didn’t understand why.  I have even been asked not to use that word while praying for some.  Can you imagine someone allowing Satan to deceive them to the point that they would fear the anointing that destroys the yoke?  People in bondage whether through sin or a horror of the delivering power of God’s anointing cannot be delivered from sin.  They will run from God in horror and go to Hell. 

No wonder He will be wiping their names from the book of life in tears.  If your name cannot bear the anointing of God then it will be anointed out of the book of life and that sorrow will cause our Savior much grief.  Second Corinthians 1:21 says, “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us…”  See, it is the anointing that will empower us to stand firm and yet for some, the anointing is an uncomfortable reminder of just how powerful and mighty God truly is.  They live a life of psychological and sociological Christianity and have no place in their hearts for a real and powerful experience of the power and might of God’s anointing.

The anointing causes us to stand firm in Christ.  Without it we have no life in Him.  The anointing destroys bondages, raises the dead and heals the sick.  I recall a series of novels called the Chronicles of Narnia.  It was a fanciful tale of Christianity where God was the Emperor Over the Sea and Jesus was a lion.  An oft used quote in the books was, “He’s not a tame lion.”  That is an accurate description of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.  He is not a tame lion.  You are expected to be overwhelmed and bowled over from time to time.  God takes pleasure in knocking you off your feet.  He cannot use the timid or cowardly or fearful (Matthew 8:26, Revelation 21:8).  If you aren’t bold and willing to press on by your own personal temperament then you had better be willing to allow His anointing to push you along with thunder and lightening bolts on occasion. 

Not only are you not allowed to be fearful or cowardly but you are required to live holy and unblameable and unreprovable in His sight (John 14:27, Colossians 1:22).  That is the only way to wear the white garment and to have Jesus brag about you to His father and His angels.

6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Does this speak to your ears?